09.11.2017

Funeral for crane fan

A young crane enthusiast in the UK, suffering from Autism and epilepsy recently passed away and has been given a big crane send off at his funeral, with four cranes from local rental company ABA joining the cortege.

Ben Lawton greeted crane operators every morning and evening for more than 20 years as they passed through the gates of ABA Crane Hire in Walsall until he died last month after he suddenly stopped breathing, although the cause of death is unknown. He was 35 years old.
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Ben Lawton

Yesterday, Lawton’s coffin was transported in one of ABA's vans, and was joined in the convoy by three Grove All Terrain cranes and a Kato city type All Terrain crane, from ABA, following a request from his father. Members of the ABA team then carried the coffin into Streetly Crematorium, Walsall.
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ABA cranes and vans were involved in the procession

ABA Crane Hire owner Anne Baggott said: "It was such a sad story. The cortege all went according to plan and I think his father was really overwhelmed with it - it just blew him away. Ben would have been absolutely thrilled, it was a good send off - he would have been pleased."

ABA's John Rowley added: "He'd be there when the first crane came out and he'd still be there when the last crane came in at night. I'd stand on the gate with him and we'd hear a crane coming and he'd say 'here comes Big Jim'. He knew the sound of every crane and the driver's name."
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Staff from ABA Crane Hire carried Lawton's coffin into the crematorium

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Staff at ABA made this plaque, which will be mounted on the fence where he stood